I got a phone call and I didn't recognize the number.

[raccoon]

I got a phone call and I didn’t recognize the number.I didn’t answer it as I usually don’t. This morning I dial the number and I got,
“we’re sorry Your number could not be completed as dial old. Please check the number and call again.”

I take it this was a Robo call?

[LuckyCharms]

1. It probably was.

Some days, I'll get 15-20 of them.

They usually spoof a local phone number. So they could be calling from another country, yet the number will show as a local call.

On my cell phone, I never answer calls from people who are not in my contact list.

On my landline, I never answer my phone, period. I let it go to the answering machine.

[csziggy]

12. Scammer spoof local numbers - but that can backfire on them

I got a call the other day that the caller ID said was from a local security company. I know the owner and have for forty years. I don't like the guy but I know him. He lives just down the road from me.

So then the guy on the line identified himself as "Dave" in an Indian or Pakistani accent and said he was calling from "Computer Security." I laughed and told "Dave" that I know the business and the owner did not have the kind of accent he did. Then I put the phone down and walked away for a while, ignoring his sputtering. So far that number has not called me back.

[LuckyCharms]

13. If I'm not busy, I'll mess with them.

If I'm REALLY not busy, I'll stay on the phone with them for an hour.

When I finally let them know that I'm onto them, they say bad things about me performing sexual acts with my mother and my sister.

[csziggy]

14. I keep my great aunt's old whistle she used as a phys ed professor

It really pisses them off and I hope it damages their hearing. I save it for the "Microsoft Technical Support" scammers and their ilk.

My husband kept one of them on the line for over an hour once. They thought he was following their directions because they could hear the keyboard working. He was playing solitaire.

[LuckyCharms]

15. Oh that's great!

I hit random keys on my keyboard.

Scammer: Did you go to the website?

Me: Yes

Scammer: What is on your screen?

Me: I don't know

Scammer: Why not?

Me: I need my computer glasses. Can you hold on for a minute while I get them?

Scammer: Yes sir.

Me 5 minutes later: Sorry about that. I'm back now. What was the question?

[csziggy]

16. Usually I am busy with something so can't take the time

Though I can always use "Which computer do you say is the problem?" since at the moment we have 2 desktops, three (well, six if you count the dead ones) laptops - oh, but I am leaving out the Commodore 64 and Texas Instruments TI-99 in the attic.

Same as the guys trying to sell warranty extensions for our cars, they can never be specific about the one they are trying to support. I pissed off the car guys when I got all excited that they were offering me a warranty on my 1999 Suburban. I wouldn't listen when he told me it was too old, I was too damn excited to take it in! He finally decided I was too stupid and hung up on me.

[LuckyCharms]

17. Niceeee!

They are so fun to play with.

If I get a caller who is a male (I wouldn't say this to a woman), and he is being a real asshole, the conversation might go like this:

Scammer: Noe please go to this web site...

Me: Do you want to make love?

Scammer after a pause: Excuse me, sir?

Me: Nothing, nevermind.

Scammer: Yes sir. Now go to the following web...

Me: I love you

Scammer: You love me?

Me: What are you talking about?

Remember, it's never too late for an extended warranty on a 1999 vehicle!

[lastlib]

18. Hahahahahahahaha!

I like the "Airplane" approach:

"Joey, have you ever seen a grown man naked?"

[dewsgirl]

2. My daughter in law has the scam likely feature on her phone,

for the last week it has been blocking calls from her grandfather, he is very ill she was horrified.
Personally, I generally don't answer calls I don't recognize.

[FakeNoose]

20. Since I have Verizon Fios, I get a free screening ap called Nomorobo

Nomorobo is a predictive service that screens out robodialed calls, and it sometimes labels it "spam" when it really isn't. That's why every legitimate caller should use Caller ID, and identify themselves by name if possible. (Cell phones no longer use names however, just 10-digit phone numbers.)

The only time it's not possible to screen by Caller ID is when the caller is using an old pre-digital landline, like this woman's grandfather was probably using. Other than the old pre-digital landlines, every other unidentified caller is deliberately trying to mislead you into answering a nuisance call.

I'd say that the Nomoro gets it right about 99% of the time.

[dewsgirl]

21. Yes..and he does have a landline so this makes sense.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. I'm Sure You're Right

Mentioned above was "spoof" local call.
Golf buddy of mine got one of those recently. Like us, their system puts the call # up on the TV screen.
It was HIS number!!!! IOW, he must have been calling himself, without being on the phone!
Cool, huh? LOL!

[sarge43]

4. "....as dial old."

Overseas spam. Either the IRS or Windows rip off.

[raccoon]

11. I'm afraid my southern accent is to blame for that.

Once when I said “step”, voice recognition came up with “stay up.”

[global1]

5. The Phone Company's Will Never Stop Robocalls Cause....

they make a ton of money off of them. The sad thing is they have the technology to stop them.

[BBG]

8. No and no

Efforts are underway to stop robocalls and phone companies do not make money off of them.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

6. If you're curious, look it up on Internet White Pages reverse phone lookup...

See: https://www.whitepages.com/reverse-phone

If it's a faked (spoofed) number used by spammers, there's likely been complaints of it being spam and that will be indicated in the lookup results. We get several spam calls most every day even though we're on the Do Not Call Registry.

If I'm concerned that a call might be something I'm expecting or otherwise valid, I look it up first.......

[dewsgirl]

22. Yep..im on it too. It no longer even seems to matter.

Whitepages is a handy tool, I've used it for at least 10 years.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

23. I believe companies are disregarding do not call lists.....

because the Trump administration is not enforcing it......

[dewsgirl]

24. Yes, I think they used to have to pay a fine.

[ashredux]

7. Yes. Spoofing....

[Raftergirl]

9. I get a ton of spam calls

on both my cell and home phone. I get a “potential spam” notification some times but not always. I let all calls that don’t come up with someone in my contact list/directory go to voice mail. If no message is left I block the number. If I get a spam message I block the number. Occasionally, irs a real call that I will need to return.

[Frustratedlady]

10. I receently received two calls from the U.S. Government...

I checked out the number they gave on the caller ID and it was the Social Security Administration. I worried about why they would be trying to contact me and watched the mail, but nothing has been delivered that would give me a clue.

I'm assuming it was a spam call using that identification. It's been a couple weeks and no more calls or letters. Phew!

[coolcat_riley]

19. random numbers

I believe you got that reply because the caller was using spoofed number. So the number you are calling is not theirs. I've read many reports about it at http://whycall.me filed by people since years ago. It's better to keep ignoring them and don't call them back.